World Bank invests US$1m in malaria programme in Nigeria's Ondo State

The World Bank invested about US$1 million in a malaria control programme in Nigeria's southwestern Ondo State, helping to cut malaria prevalence by more than half, officials said Monday. The investment, equivalent to about 1.5 billion naira, was made under the IMPACT Malaria Project, implemented by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) in partnership with the Ondo State Ministry of Health. The programme provided malaria commodities, trained healthcare workers, supported logistics and financed other interventions across Ondo's 18 local government areas. IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director Dr Charles Mensah said the project had delivered significant improvements in malaria control and child health despite being completed within a shorter period than originally planned. He attributed the achievement to strong cooperation from the Ondo State government, technical support from the World Bank and assistance from Nigeria's National Malaria Elimination Programme. 'Ondo State is one of the states where we enjoy the highest level of cooperation, from the Governor's Office to the Commissioner for Health and other officials; the support was exceptional,' Mensah said. 'The World Bank invested significantly in the project. In naira terms, the investment was about 1.5 billion naira, covering commodities, training of healthcare workers, logistics and other interventions across the state and local governments,' he said. World Bank representative Dr Pwanedo Nzomisaki said the project, which began in Ondo in 2024, had produced 'remarkable results'. Available statistics showed that malaria prevalence in the state fell from 27 percent to 13 percent during the implementation period, Nzomisaki said. The decline represents a reduction of 14 percentage points and comes as Nigeria continues to battle one of the world's heaviest malaria burdens. Nzomisaki commended IHVN and the Ondo State government for their commitment to implementing the programme and achieving its targets. The intervention focused not only on malaria prevention and treatment but also on strengthening the broader primary healthcare system. It included the provision of essential malaria commodities, training for health workers and logistical support designed to improve the delivery of services at local healthcare facilities. The project also sought to improve immunisation coverage and strengthen primary healthcare delivery in participating areas. The World Bank-backed programme is part of wider efforts to reduce the health and economic burden of malaria in Nigeria, where the disease remains a major cause of illness and death, particularly among children. Improving access to diagnosis, treatment and preventive interventions remains central to efforts to reduce malaria transmission and protect vulnerable populations. The project's results in Ondo also highlight the potential impact of targeted investments in healthcare workers, medical supplies and primary health infrastructure. At the close-out ceremony in Akure, the state capital, awards of excellence were presented to individuals and organisations involved in the implementation of the programme, according to local media reports. The completion of the IMPACT Malaria Project comes as Nigerian authorities and development partners seek to sustain gains in malaria control and strengthen the country's capacity to respond to other major public health challenges. Officials said continued collaboration between state governments, development partners and health institutions would be critical to maintaining progress and ensuring that improved malaria services reach communities across Nigeria. Subscribe to Our WhatsApp Channel to Get the Latest News